[The Pink Triangle]
Southern California's cup runneth over, with not one but three major gay centers—West Hollywood, Palm Springs, and San Diego. This scenic part of the United States dominates the list of gay travelers' favorite destinations: all 3 of these cities appear in the top 10. Each is unique in its variety of appeals, each offers a different type of gay vacation. Why more gay tourists don't take in all three destinations in one trip is a mystery.
In fact, the three cities' tourism boards have recently joined forces and launched a campaign to encourage gay travelers to do just that. Their new web site GoGaySoCal.com shows off their combined strengths. Since you'll inevitably need a car in Southern California, a road trip is the natural way to get around the three as well as take in the region's beauty and stops along the way (all easily done in one week's time). The recent spate of unfortunate wildfires has not dampened Southern California's allure, since many of the popular tourism attractions in the area were not affected.
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The dancefloor of Akbar, in Silverlake, just outside West Hollywood.
Sculpture in the Serra Chapel, San Juan Capistrano.
[San Diego]
Thriving San Diego (self-dubbed "America's Finest City" and not far from the truth) has arisen out of the shadow of L.A. to become a major—yet mellow—city in its own right. Beyond the world-famous San Diego Zoo, its safari-like Wild Animal Park, and SeaWorld, the city is quickly becoming known for its elegant hotels and dining and nightlife, especially in its revitalized and historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown.
With emphasis on the outdoors, San Diego is more about a low-key lifestyle than L.A.'s Hollywood sheen. Many visitors are surprised at the size of San Diego's LGBT scene: Hillcrest remains the epicenter of San Diego's gay community, but the city has a number of gay enclaves that includes University Heights, Normal Heights, and North Park, all with LGBT bars and restaurants. On top of that, San Diego has more gay-specific lodgings than L.A.
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Top:SoCal sunning. Above: Black's Beach is a crazy mix of naked hippies, young surfers, gay nudists, and the occasional marines.
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[The Skinny]
WHERE TO STAY
West Hollywood: The stunning all-suite Le Monstrose is a hidden gem located in WeHo's residential area popular with celebrities and with a gorgeous rooftop pool.
San Diego: Originally built in 1926, the 75-room Park Manor Suites is a huge gay-marketed hotel right on Balboa Park adjoining Hillcrest. Currently undergoing over $3 million in renovations, the suites are huge and enjoy great city views, and on Friday nights upwards to 200 local gay gents come to usher in the weekend at the rooftop restaurant.
Palm Springs: East Canyon Hotel and Spa is an outstanding, recently-renovated gay resort with a wonderful spa area with two private massage rooms—one of only two gay spa hotels in the country.
WHERE TO EAT
West Hollywood: The BOA Steakhouse at The Grafton Hotel is a new boutique interpretation of a steakhouse, with a cool, low-lit glass and bamboo interior serving healthy, light dishes made of free-range certified organic beef.
San Diego: Indigo Grill has made a name for itself with its eclectic, innovative menu made up of indigenous people's traditional cuisine from the Arctic to Mexico—and the atmosphere is very stylishly local.
Palm Springs: Wang's in the Desert is a vivacious Pan-Asian restaurant that has become a hot de facto gay bar, especially on Sundays, with a live DJ and a festive patio. The swanky interior includes a small stream that feeds a koi-filled pond.
WHERE TO PLAY
West Hollywood: The Abbey is the one of the largest gay bar/lounges in the area and where everyone eventually migrates to, with a social patio, cozy cabanas, and even a crystal fireplace.
San Diego: The always-packed Bourbon Street is a multi-roomed hopping nightclub/bar with open patio, in University Heights.
Palm Springs: Toucan's Tiki Lounge is a fun, campy, tropical-themed bar with two patios that pack in a diverse LGBT crowd, especially on weekends.
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The coastline at La Jolla, off of Interstate 5,
near San Diego.
Competitors for the title of Mr. Gay International,
in Palm Springs. Photo: Lobeline Communications.
[West Hollywood]
The first stop on a gay SoCal road trip should be West Hollywood, one of the gayest cities in the world that offers not only a sophisticated queer infrastructure and nightlife, but also proximity to L.A.'s other popular attractions like Hollywood and Universal City. Santa Monica Boulevard has been refurbished in recent years, and the once rather seedy bar scene is now replete with upscale lounges that even attract straights to their glamorous settings. Friendly outdoor patios and sidewalk seating is the California norm here, and few realize that Sunset Boulevard's live music clubs, swanky hotels, and star-studded eateries are also within West Hollywood's city limits.
[On The Road]
After club-hopping in West Hollywood, head down Interstate 5 to San Diego (about a two and a half to three hour drive depending on traffic). You'll soon escape L.A. and Orange County's signature sprawl, and find yourself in rather quiet respite between the two cities, where development has not intruded on the gently rolling hills spilling into the Pacific.
After passing the old Spanish town of San Juan Capistrano and the tony coastal enclave of Dana Point, be sure to stop by one of the best gay nude beaches in the world, San Onofre State Beach. The southernmost part of the beach is technically on federal land, where nudism is de facto. San Onofre is so wide and huge, buttressed by dramatically carved cliff faces, that you feel like you have the whole place to yourself.
Further south on the freeway just before you enter San Diego proper, a more social gay nude beach is the famed Black's Beach under the cliffs near the University of California at San Diego. Here you can sun your buns while hang gliders fly far above and dolphins frolic in the waves.
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Above: Mission San Diego de Alcala, "California's First Church", founded in 1769.
[Palm Springs]
After a couple days of coastal San Diego, head inland to the exclusive resort town of Palm Springs. From San Diego, take Interstate 15 to Highway 79, and follow this scenic route over the San Bernardino National Forest on Highways 371 and 74. After enjoying this nearly alpine environment, you'll be brought directly into Cathedral City that adjoins Palm Springs.
"PS" has been a queer getaway as early as the 1930s when closeted Hollywood stars came here to live their lifestyles far from prying eyes, and the tradition continues with LGBT travelers flocking to this desert oasis to simply bask by frisky gay swimming pools at one of the area's 30+ gay-only resorts, and to let their hair down in the area's array of LGBT bars and clubs.
The rejuvenated Spanish-flavored downtown retains a lot of its original charm, with art galleries and chic shops and restaurants lining the main drag of North Palm Canyon Drive. And the mystical Joshua Tree National Monument, a virgin desert region with fantastical scenery, is a short drive away.
After you are sufficiently tanned and relaxed, drive back to L.A. on Interstate 10, and you've experienced one of the best gay vacations America has to offer.
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Top:The Abbey is known for consistent and sometimes star-laced crowds.
Above:Le Monstrose, nestled just steps from Sunset Blvd.
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